NUEVO LAREDO CANTINA

Hopefully, all of you enjoyed my special “Best Of Atlanta” restaurants recently released after much painstaking consideration.

As you may recall, “Best Mexican” was penned as “INCOMPLETE” because I had not sampled the immensely popular, West Midtown neighborhood favorite, Nuevo Laredo Cantina.

This past Saturday, I decided it was time to see what all the hubbub was about and ventured out close to 6PM to meet several friends.

The first shocker of the evening was the proclamation of a 35 minute wait!! At 6PM??? Oh, hell to the no!!!! Much to my consternation, I decided to forgo my ubiquitous impatience and sit it out. My friends arrived a few minutes after I did, and we chit-chatted over some margaritas in the blazing summer sun in my jeans and buttoned down black shirt!!! Think I was a happy camper at this point?

So far, I was none too impressed at this celebrated establishment. Not only were we waiting despite our early arrival time, but the place looked like a roadside dive on the inside. How did such profusive praise adorn the walls of this shanty of a restaurant? (I beheld several “Best Mexican” awards courtesy of the readers of “Creative Loafing.”) Clearly, ambience was not going to be its strong suit.

It was at this point I decided that I was going to try my best to dislike this place intensely just so I could be the one dissenting voice in all of the hoopla. Based on its location, I figured I could continue my diatribe by denigrating the diversity of the restaurant, which as you all know is one of my important criteria. Alas, however, I found a melting pot of folks---young, old, black, white, and Hispanic. Well, I was foiled in this area.

Finally, our name was called, and we made our way to our table. The first order of business? Fire up the guacamole and the salsa! After all, the key, in my mind, to a really good Mexican restaurant is the guac!! It was at this point that I put the moratorium on disliking the place, as the guacamole was stupendous. Though not spicy, it had just the right amount of zest that was most pleasing. The salsa, too, was a success, and while you might not think so, believe me, it is possible to mess up salsa. We were off to an excellent start!

I opted for the Chicken Diablo---shredded chicken in a red chili sauce that was served with rice, beans, and tortillas. This dish was definitely piquant to the taste buds and absolutely terrific. The portions thoroughly covered the plate, which must be lauded, especially from folks like me with a hearty appetite.

One of my friends orders the beef chimichanga, which is also muy bien!!!!! Again, it’s a heaping of food as well and an excellent choice if you’ve gotten this dish before somewhere else.

My friend, Tre’, (who you may recall from previous write-ups as the pseudo-President Emeritus of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce) opted for the bean burrito, which I thoroughly enjoyed sampling as well, even though usually I’m not a fan of what I would consider to be a pretty insipid type of burrito. This one, however, was in stark contrast to that.

Before I knew it, my gluttonous pilfering of my friends’ entrees was over, and I was fuller than a tick on a dog. Dessert wasn’t going to be feasible on this night, but had you been interested, there were scanty options---flan and sopapilla. That’s it. However, I wasn’t about to complain about that since I was going to have to be seemingly fork-lifted out of the restaurant anyway.

And suddenly, I knew exactly what all the fuss was about, despite my best attempts to lend a disparaging utterance or two. This was the best Mexican restaurant I’d eaten at in Atlanta, even if it did demand a 35 minute wait to indulge.

Service was consistent and congenial, and the price was definitely right for those on a budget.

My best advice to you is to act like your grandparents and eat at 4PM if you don’t want to wait. Or just show up when you want and prepare to guzzle down a margarita---or two or three or four---depending on when you arrive!

Food: A
Service: A
Portions: A+
Ambience/Comfort: D (But you’re aren’t going here for that anyway!)
Diversity Of Dining Patrons: Good
Vegetarian Options: Limited
Options For Lactose Intolerant: Yes. Just order things without cheese!
OVERALL GRADE: A
FINAL COMMENT: Yes, I was living up to my name and being a “Doubting Thomas”, but this place made a believer out of a curmudgeon like me!

THE BEST OF ATLANTA 2008!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve been asked many a time, “What’s the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta? Best Steakhouse? Best Mexican?” I thought it was time for me to formulate a “Best Of” tailored to the Atlanta restaurant scene, destined to create a ballyhooed debate across the A!!


Without further ado, (drumroll, please) here are the Best Of Winners as evaluated by Tomeatery.com:


BEST STEAKHOUSE (Non-Chain): PRIME
Comment: I’m quite effusive with my praise of this steakhouse. You can also find excellent seafood and sushi. The USDA prime beef is unparalleled, and there’s no better deal than ½ off on the steaks daily from 5PM through 6:15PM. (Order to kitchen by 6:30PM to qualify.)

BEST ITALIAN (Non-Chain): PRICCI
Comment: The Buckhead Restaurant Life Group has several delicious, noteworthy establishments, but Pricci is peerless in my estimation. Elegant ambience, attentive service, and mouth-watering Italian food make Pricci my personal favorite in this category.

BEST MEXICAN (Non-Chain): INCOMPLETE
Comment: I’ve heard many of my friends rave about Nuevo Laredo Cantina, but the waits have been so interminable, that I have yet to feast at this local neighborhood favorite. Thus, until I do, I cannot conclusively (or in all fairness) render a verdict in this category.

BEST BRUNCH (Non-Chain): MURPHY’s
Comment: The French toast is simply marvelous, as are many of the other brunch specialties. Sadly, the waits on the weekends deter me from dining here more frequently. I will say Einstein’s is a very close second!!

BEST THAI (Non-Chain): (TIE) NAN AND TAMARIND SEED
Comment: Not surprisingly, the two best Thai restaurants in the city are owned by the same woman—Nan Niyomkul. I’d say Nan is a more romantic and pricier setting, but Tamarind Seed delivers consistently with many piquant dishes.

BEST BURGER (Non-Chain): SIX FEET UNDER
Comment: There used to be a segment in the “INTOWN” newspaper called “The Burger Guys.” These gentlemen would go around town seeking the best burger in the area. They pegged Six Feet Under as the absolute best, and I’d have to agree with them. Seasoned perfectly, these are some of the best burgers you’ll ever find.

BEST TURKEY BURGER (Non-Chain): ATLANTIC GRILL
Comment: Looking for a tasty, low-fat alternative? Head down to Atlantic Station (Actually, don’t unless you’re really cute! It’s too crowded already!!) for their fantastic turkey burger with mushrooms. By far, the best thing on the menu!

BEST SEAFOOD (Non-Chain): ATLANTA FISH MARKET
Comment: I noted Pricci as the best the Buckhead Life Group has to offer, and I stand by that. Atlanta isn’t necessarily teeming with a myriad of excellent seafood restaurants. (I’m from Florida so I’m particularly discerning in this category.) However, I’d have to say the restaurant with the gargantuan fish in the front is best with limited excellent choices in the Atlanta metro area.


BEST STEAKHOUSE (Chain): RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE:
Comment: A steak served up in sizzling butter? This is beef heaven for some. Also some excellent seafood and chicken dishes. Which brings me to….

BEST DESSERT (Chain or Non-Chain): APPLE TART at RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE
Comment: Simply the most indulgent, luscious, artery-blocking dessert I’ve ever ingested. The crust is filled with apples and caramel, then baked, and topped off with a dollop of ice cream. Unbelievably delicious!

BEST ITALIAN (Chain): MAGGIANO’s
Comment: I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they went to Maggiano’s and hated it. Copious portions of pastas, seafood, and pleasing chicken dishes make this perennial favorite a fantastic choice for a special occasion or just a regular belt-busting night out.

BEST MEXICAN (Chain): ROSA MEXICANO
Comment: Remember what I said about NOT coming down to Atlantic Station? Word is getting around about the best guacamole in Atlanta. Rosa makes it right at your table, and despite the double digit price tag, it’s worth every dollar! Some memorable entrée dishes and friendly service as well.

BEST BRUNCH (Chain): J. CHRISTOPHER’S
Comment: If you can’t find something you like on this menu, you are too picky, and you need to get a life! Plenty of fantastic choices including breakfast skillets, a plethora of omelets, specialty pancake dishes, French toast, and much more.

BEST CHEAP DATE PLACE (Non-Chain): NICKIEMOTO’S
Comment: Sushi prices that we’ll make the frugal folks of the world smile, along with very affordable entrees, replete with an eclectic and lively crowd, make this a solid choice when you’re pinching the pennies but still want a palate-pleasing meal.

BEST BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE (Chain or Non-Chain): FOGO DE CHAO
Comment: This is a restaurant concept that seems to be getting more and more traction as a multitudinous amount have emerged across the country. However, for my money (and bring a lot because it’s almost $50 per person), you can’t beat Fogo De Chao for selections, quality, and service. Carnivores rarely have to wait for more than a minute with the green card turned up (indicating you want more food) before more and more beef, poultry, pork, and lamb options are brought to your table. However, the one downside is that you walk out of there feeling like a beached whale.

BEST LATE NIGHT SPOT (Chain or Non-Chain): STEAK N’ SHAKE
Comment: I’m sorry, but you can’t beat homemade milkshakes, double cheese steakburgers, and that unsurpassed chili at 3AM after a night of clubbing. You just can’t.

BEST RESTAURANT TO ENSURE YOU’RE GETTING LAID FROM YOUR DATE (Non Chain): THE SUN DIAL
Comment: Or, to put it in a less unrefined fashion, for “Most Romantic Restaurant”, this is my choice. The food is not stellar by any stretch, but you aren’t going there for that. You’re going for the breath-taking views of the city, and oh yeah, to impress your date. If he or she doesn’t put out for you after a date there, they’re really not that into you!!

BEST PIZZA: NANCY’S
Comment: Don’t email me about Fellini’s! Nancy’s thin crust Canadian bacon and black olives pizza is the closest thing to pie nirvana I’ve found.

BEST DESSERT PLACE: CAFÉ INTERMEZZO
Comment: This cozy little place has a wide array of cakes, tarts, and cheesecakes. A relaxing, laid-back option to culminate an evening out.

BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT: PRIME
Comment: I know, I know. You probably think, “How can a mall restaurant be the best in Atlanta?” Well, to relegate Prime to the pedestrian ranks of a “Mall Restaurant” is like branding “The Dark Knight” as a “moderately successful film.” The steak is superb, but the seafood and sushi selections are meritorious as well. I’ve always been vocal about how underrated I believe this restaurant is, but I’m not alone in my assessment. Whitney Houston actually identified Prime as her favorite in that train wreck of a reality show, “Being Bobby Brown.” (Yes, sadly, I did watch an episode!!)